Cotton-comber.



G. M. WHITIN.

COTTON COMBER.

APPLICATION mzn JUNE 13. 1913.

Patented Sept. 12,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES G. M. WH ITIN.

COTTON COMBER.

APPLICATION man was I3. 1913.

PatentedSept. 1 16.

SSHEETS-SH T o T M V N I WITIVE88E8 8 V, E N M W A G. M. WHITIN.

COTTON COMBER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13. 1913.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES IIV-VEII/TOH ATTORNEYS G. M. WHITIN.

COTTON BOMBER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13. I913.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

G. M.WHIT1N.

COTTON COMBER.

APPLICATION men JUNE 13. 1913.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5 ATTORNEYS nivrrnn arn'r enrich.

GEORGE lVf. VJHITIN, G1 "WHITINSVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE VII-."ZI'IIN MACHINE WORKS, OF WHITIIKI'SVILLE, MASS.A.CHUSETT$, A CORPORATION OF MAS- SACHUSETTS.

COTTON-COMBER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, rare.

that short fibers are as useful in the yarn as the longer fibers provided they are equally combed, polished and parallelized, and to this end the invention provides an assemblage of parts whereby the number of fibers left unheld or unsupported in the space where detachment occurs, is reduced to a minimum, and whereby certain other effects are produced as will hereinafter be made apparent to those skilled in this art.

In the drawings forming part of this specification: Figure l is a vertical transverse section through the central part of one of the combing heads of a cotton comber built in accordance with this invention and showing the essential parts thereof. Fig. 2 is a similar section taken on a plane adja cent to the roll bearings of such heads. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of parts of Figs. 1 and 9 Fig. 5 is a separate view of the feed rolls. Fi g. 6 is a similar view of the detaching and weighting rolls.

head is illustrated in the drawings, because they are all alike, and illustration of the drive-head is omitted because it need not differ from drive-heads as ordinarily made such. as any comber builder can supply, for

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 7 is a detail of the gudgeon sleeves of .the detaching roll; and

giving the several parts their necessary motions.

The comber cylinder shaft 2, journaled in the uprights l and commonto all of the combing heads, carries for each head the usual comb cylinder, which comprises a needle half-lap 3 and a detaching half-lap or segment 4:. In the present case the detaching segment is radially higher on the comb cylinder, by about of an inch, than the points of the needles of the half-lap and it is also beveled on its forward margin so as to reduce the shock of impact upon the detaching roll. The lap is moved toward the cylinder along a lap-plate 5, passing through a pair of feed rolls marked 6 and 7, respectively, by which it is projected into the jaws of the nipper mechanism, which jaws hold the terminal fringe of the lap in contact with the half-lap needles. The lower feed roll 7 is a shaft roll like the comb cylinder shaft, 2'. 6., extends from the drive head through all of the combing heads of the machine, and is set close in rear of the nipper jaws and just above the cushionplate, being j ournaled in adjustable bearings S, bolted to the margins of the frame uprights which are depressed at this point relatively to the forward portion thereof to allow the said bearings 8 to be set in the position stated under proper mechanical conditions. The upper feed roll 6 is subject to pressure from a superposed pressure roll 9, the ends of which are held or journaled in a pair of arms 10, which are pivoted in rear of the rolls and subject to the tension of strong springs, such as indicated at 11 in Fig. 1. The forward ends of-the arms are formed with holes to receive the gudgeons of the pressure roll 9, and with inverted notches 12 to support the gudgeons of the feed roll, without, however, imparting any pressure to the latter gudgeons.

The pressure roll, as shown more clearly in Fig. 5, is of full diameter only for a portion of its length between its gudgeons, such portion being fluted to mesh with the fluted surface of the feed roll and adapted to press thereupon. By this arrangement the feed roll can be made relatively slender in proportion to the width of the lap it serves, since the extended pressure-bearing of the upper roll will prevent its flexure or distortion and thereby insure a uniform nip throughout its full length. The slenderness of the upper feed roll permits it to be held by the arms 10 well over toward the front side of the lower roll 7 and nearer to the top comb than said lower roll, yet without contact with the moving nipper knife. This disposition of the feed roll brings the bite line of the feed rolls near to the nipping line of the nipper jaws and throws the tangent attheir common contact downwardly toward the cylinder so that such line approximates coincidence with the bite line which the segment has upon the under side of the detaching roll. This tangent is indicated by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1. Both feed rolls 6 and 7 are formed with sharp intermeshing V-shaped flutes, as clearly shown in the drawings, the contour of said flutes being such as to producea substantial interp meshing through the intervening lap of cotton. lhe upper feed roll, though smaller in diameter than the lower. feed roll, is thus positively driven by the lower feed roll and the cotton is held with a maximum degree of security, which effectively prevents the pulling through of thefibers under the tension of the detaching operation. The pressure roll 9 is also of slender diameter, as shown in the drawings, but as itis not in contact with the cotton, its distortion under weight ing tension is not of consequence. It may run under constant fiexure, if need be, without in any way disturbing the nip of the feed rolls. The portion thereof which bears on the upper feed roll may be the central portiononly, or it may consist of two separated portions on each side of the center, as indicated in Fig. 5, each portion being of such length and position with respect to the feed rolls as to produce uniformly distributed nipping pressure thereon. Such disposition of weightingmeans not only provides for the use of slender feed rolls, as above stated, but conversely, provides for longer rolls adapted to serve wider laps. It is to be understood, however, as appears from the claims appended hereto, that the invention is not limited to the use of pressure rolls in the manner above described, so long as the cotton lap is held securely between the upper and lower feed'rolls.

The nipper mechanism comprises the usual cushion-plate 13, which is fixed in position with its forward or nipping edge stationed just in rear of the vertical center line of the comb cylinder. The movable nipper jaw or knife 14, is carried on arms, a portion of which appears in Fig. 1, being marked 15, which arms are fulcrumed in rear of the feed rolls and far enough back to permit the knife to move substantially edgewise as it approaches and recedes from the cushion plate. The lower part of the knife is provided with the usual lip, which when closed on the lap causes the terminal fringe thereof to project in a rearward and downwardly inclined direction and close to the path of the half-lap needles. The latter are inclined to their radii and encounter the fringe projecting as just described, with a penetration into the fibers which is most efiicient in removing the dirt. The nipper knife opens upwardly to a point above the bite line tangent of the feed rolls, 0., the dot-and-dash line above referred to, so as to permit unobstructed forward movement of the .lap at the proper time. It will be understood that while the cushion plate is set in a fixed position, it may nevertheless be rendered adjustable in its supports, the

nipper knife being also capable of corresponding adjustment. Such supporting and adjusting means are not shown in the present drawings because they may be the same as in machines now in use, or as shown, for example, in the patent of E. H. Rooney, No. 822,479.

The top comb 16, which is also stationary in its working position, is held directly in front of the nipper knife and its teeth are cylinder to act upon, and in this position it intersects the above mentioned bite line tangent of the feed rolls; its teeth project as close as possible without contact, to the path of the half-lap needles. The support for the top comb may be provided by means of the usual top comb arms and the adjustments usually pertaining to them, such as shown, for instance, in the patent referred to whereby the top comb may be swung upwardly out of its operating region for clean ing the teeth thereof.

It will be understood that the fringe of lap after being combed by the needles of the rotary half-lap, is next encountered by the detaching segment 42, and drawn forward thereby and nipped against the under side of the detaching roll 17, thereby being raised into the depending teeth of the top comb. The forward motion of the detaching roll and segment then pulls the nipped fibers forwardly, detaching them from the main body of the lap, which is held between the feed rolls, the nipper jaws having previously opened to accommodate the detachment. The detaching roll can grasp only the forward or cylinder-combed ends of the fringe which project beyond the top comb, and it draws these fibers through the teeth of the top comb so that their tail ends are combed thereby. If the combed fringe, when released from the nippers, contains fibers which are raised into the top comb but which are not still held, by their tail ends, in the feed rolls, they will be thrown down as waste, if the detaching roll does not grasp them,

llt)

because on the next feed of the lap they will not be again nipped by the closing nippers and the cylinder comb teeth will therefore carry them off. The forward setting of the bite-line of the feed roll tends to prolong or advance their hold on the fibers so as to retain the shorter fibers during detachment, since there is thus less space between the said rolls and the nippers than would be the case if the feed rolls were of larger diameter and hence, necessarily, set with their bite line farther to the rear. The slenderness of the said rolls also enables the bite-line to be located lower down and nearer to the level of the nipping edge of the cushion plate, so that thereby a longer fringe is presented to the action of the half-lap needles and more of the length of-each fiber receives the combing and polishing action thereof. It will be understood that the lower feed roll 7 is of such diameter, consistent with the width of lap it serves, to resist any considerable flexure from the weighted or spring-pressed upper feed roll; the latter may of course conform to slight deflection of the lower roll, but will in any event maintain a uniform nipping pressure thereon. As a further means of preventing the loss of short fibers, the in vention contemplates an arrangement and means of supporting and weighting the detaching roll whereby its biteline upon the segment is set back close to the top comb so that it will therefore be able to grasp more of the combed fringe and thus further promote the saving of fibers. This rearward setting of the detaching roll bite-line is best accomplished by diminishing the diameter of the detaching roll and superposing a pressure means thereon, similar to the feed roll pressure means, which will cause it to operate against the segment with a uniform nip and without flexure, notwithstanding its sle-nderness. Ordinary detach ing rolls, as used in this class of machines, are from g} to 1 inch in diameter, to serve a standard 12 inch lap. By the present pressure means it may be made or inch in diameter and may therefore be set correspondingly rearward, as indicated in the drawings, providing a distance from its own bite-line to that of the feed rolls and to the top comb which is very much shorter than has hitherto been possible in this type of comber, and which may be not materially longer than the average length of staple under treatment. The detachment of the tuft is done in this space substantially coincident with the bite-line tangent above referred to, and it will be evident that if the said space does not exceed the length of the fiber, the loss of shorter fibers will be reduced to a. minimum. The detaching roll 17, which may be leather-covered, is driven partly by the segment, when in contact therewith, and partly by the drawing-01f or piecing roll 18, with which it is in constant driving contact, under pressure.

The roll 18 is a shaft roll journaled in pillow-blocks 19, on the upper edges of the intermediate frame uprights 1, and is driven by the drive-head, receiving an intermittent or alternately forward and back motion, suitable for piecing the successive tufts as usual in this class of machines. The detaching roll 17 pal-takes of this motion so as to be turning forwardly when engaged by the segment and at the same surface speed. When not engaged by the segment, the detaching roll is supported at its ends upon a pair of supports or arms 20, which in the present case may be stationary parts of the machine, because the half-lap needles do not reach far enough to strike the surface of the roll, and there is hence no need of lifting or moving the roll to escape contact with them. The arms are therefore formed on the stationary pillow blocks 19, extending laterally and rearwardly therefrom, as shown, although they may be disposed otherwise.

Each arm holds a bearing block 22, resting on a set screw 23, tapped into the shelf or lip part of the arm and clamped in its adjusted position thereon by a clamp bolt 24-, of obvious arrangement. The upper forward surface 25, (Fig. 8) of the bearing blocks, is flat and inclined forwardly and downwardly, when in place on the arms 20. The detaching roll gudgeons are incased in journal sleeves 26, which rest upon these surfaces 25, at each end, so that the working face of the roll is thus held in contact with the shaft roll 18, the set screws 23 being set to place the bottom of the detaching roll in a posltion in which it is encountered by the detaching segment but escapes the half-lap needles, as above stated.

In order to maintain the detaching roll under the pressure that is necessary to detach the tuft, it is weighted at each end and also at an intermediate point or points. The i 7 end weighting is accomplished by means of a hook stirrup 2'7, engaging the end of each gudgeon sleeve 26, and occupying a recess formed in the block 22 for the purpose, as shown at 28. The hook is inserted through the recess 28 from the under side and its lower end is hooked to a suitably weighted lever 29 fulerumed on a stud 30, below the comb cylinder. The direction of the pressure thus applied urges the detaching roll against the inclined surfaces 25 and into contact with the piecing roll 18, and also, intermittently, with the segment. The means for weighting the central or intermediate portion or portions of the roll comprise a superposed, steel, pressure roll 40, not of materially greater diameter than the detaching roll, so that no greater space is required for it than for the latter. It can thus be disposed without conflict, between the piecing and clearer rolls on the one hand and the top comb on the other. This pressure roll 40 is of full diameter only in its central part, as shown at 40, at which it bears on the detaching roll, the rest of its length being slightly reduced in diameter, so that it possesses maximum stiffness without d.nger of touching the end portions of the detaching roll, when under pressure. At the junction of the two diameters, the roll is sloped or beveled toavoid sharp edges which might cut the leather of the detaching roll. The extent of contact upon the detaching roll depends in some measure upon the diameter of the latter roll, as well as the average diameter of the pressure roll; for rolls of inch diameter and a pressure roll of corresponding size, a central bearing of about the length of the detaching roll is found to be suficient to give the desired effect. With rolls adapted to serve wider laps, the pressure roll can have two, or even more, full diameter portions to bear on the detaching roll, if desired, after the manner indicated in Fig. 5, and may, if desired, be relied upon to produce the whole pressure upon the detaching roll. The gudgeons of the pressure roll are journaled in sleeves 31, and such sleeves are guided in channels 32, formed in upstanding projections 33 of the bearing blocks 22, so that the pressure roll is maintained thereby in proper relation to the detaching roll, the position of the channels permitting both rolls to yield, when neces sary, to the impact of the passing segment and enabling them to be readily removed from the machine when desired, through the channels. A stirrup 841E, like the ordinary combing machine stirrup, is applied to the gudgeon sleeve 31 at each end of the pressure roll, fitting between the collars thereon, the other end of the stirrup being extended downwardly and hooked to a weighted lever 35, fulcrumed on the stud 30, and weighted in the same manner as the lever 29 on the same stud. The channels 82 are inclined oppositely to the faces 25 of the bearing blocks but in cooperation therewith serve to direct the pressure roll so as to urge the detaching roll in the same direction as the pull of the endstirrups 27, thereby pressing the central part of theslender detaching roll into nipping contact with both the segment and the piecing roll 18, and counteracting any tendency forthe middle of the roll to bow upwardly under the influence of the stirrup 27 or the shock of the segment. The upstanding wall 33 of the bearing blocks serves to prevent endwise displacement of both the detaching and pressure rolls, and the general arrangement of the parts permits operation at high speeds. its in the case of the feed rolls, however, it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the use of the superposed pressure roll. Such rolls,

whether used on the top feed roll or the detaching roll, constitute improved means for applying the nipping pressure to their respective rolls and permit the use of rolls of minimum degree of slenderness. However, a closer nip than heretofore possible can be obtained with high speed operation, by the utilization of the essential principles of this invention without such special pressure means.

The piecing roll 18 is surmounted by the usual brass clearer roll 36, held in the horsetails 37 in which also is mounted the usual clearer cover, not shown. The horsetail supports are marked 38 and are mounted on the pillows 19. It will be understood that the machine is also provided with the usual sliver pan and other accessories, such "as shown, for example, in the patent above referred to. These parts receive the continuous pieced sliver that emerges from between the piecing and clearer rolls, and conduct it along a sliver apron to a coilcr-head and can at one end of the machine.

I claim:

1 A cotton comber comprising a comb cyllnder having a segment, nippers, and feeding means behind the nippers comprising a pair of rolls, the common tangent whereof extends downwardly toward and intersects the path of the segment, in cembination with a top comb in front of the nippers, a slender detaching roll in front of the top comb, a relatively larger shaft roll in contact with the detaching roll and serving to drive the same, and means for preventing fiexure of said detaching roll by impact with the segment.

2. In a cotton comber of the kind described, a comb cylinder with a segment, a pair of nipper aws comprising a stationary cushion plate and an oscillating nipper knife, and lap feed-rolls close in rear of said jaws, the upper roll being of smaller diameter than the lower roll and held on the forward side thereof, in combination with a top comb forward of said nipper jaws and adapted to be turned back from its operative position to expose the teeth thereof for cleaning, a segment-engaging detaching roll operating close in front of said top comb, a piecing-shaft roll forward of said detaching roll and in driving contact therewith, the said detaching roll being of smaller diameter than the piecing shaft roll, whereby it has close nip on the fibers held in the said feed rolls.

3. In a cotton comber of the kind described, a comb cylinder having a segment, nipper jaws comprising a fixed cushion plate and a moving nipper knife, a. pair of feed rolls close in rear of said knife and comprising a lower roll and a, smaller diameter upper roll, in combination with a top comb mounted to be turned back from its operative position in front of said knife, a small diameter detaching roll mounted in front of the top comb, whereby it has close nip on the combed fringe, a shaft roll forward of said detaching roll and supporting means for the detaching roll whereby it is held in relation to be driven by contact with said shaft roll and the segment.

4. In a cotton comber, the combination with the comb cylinder and detaching and piecing means, of a feed roll of slender diameter adapted to nip a lap beneath it and means for imparting uniform pressure thereto comprising a pair of arms, means for weighting the arms and means held by the arms for applying the pressure thereof to the working face of said feed roll.

5.. In a cotton comber, the combination with the combing, detaching and piecing means, of a feed roll adapted to nip a lap beneath it, a superposed roll thereon having bearing contact therewith along a portion of its length intermediate of the ends of its working face and means for weighting the superposed roll.

6. In a cotton comber, a comb cylinder, a set of piecing and detaching rolls and a feed roll adapted to nip a lap beneath it and from which the detaching roll draws the tuft, in combination with pressure means at the ends of the feed roll and means'for distributing such pressure upon the working face of the feed roll intermediate of its ends.

7. In a cotton comber, the combination of the piecing and detaching means, of a lower feed roll, an upper feed roll, a pair of arms holding the upper roll in position thereon, means for weighting the arms, and a roller carried by the arms adapted to transmit the pressure thereof to an intermediate portion of the working face of the upper feed roll.

8. In a cotton comber, piecing and detaching means, a nipping means, a fluted feed roll behind the nipping means and an upper fluted feed roll of slender diameter superposed thereon, in combination with a pair of arms holding the upper roll in pos1- tion on the lower roll, and carrying a fluted pressure roll superposed on the upper feed roll, and means for weighting the arms.

9. In a cotton comber having a combing cylinder with a segment, a top comb, nipper jaws, a feed roll in rear thereof, an upper feed roll of slender diameter held on the forward side of the lower roll and nearer the top comb than the lower feed roll, and means for distributing pressure upon the upper feed roll comprising a superposed pressure roll bearing on the central part of said upper roll and a pair of Weighted arms bearing on the gudgeons of the pressure roll.

10. In a I-Ieilman type comber, lapfeeding means comprising a lower feed roll, an

upper roll held on the forward side of the lower roll, and means for mppmg the terminal fringe of the lap held thereby, in combmation with a top comb, a detaching rollunounted in front of the top comb, a piecing roll in contact with the detaching roll, said upper feed roll and the detaching roll being subject to pressure intermediate of the ends of their working faces.

11. In a cotton comber, a detaching roll and means for weighting the same, comprismg a superposed roll bearing solely on the middle region thereof and means for applylng pressure to the superposed roll.

12. Ina cotton comber, the combination with the detaching segment and the lower piecing roll, of a detaching roll in constant contact with the latter and adapted for intermittent engagement by the detaching segment, a pressure roll, superposed on the detaching roll, and means for guiding the gudgeons of the detaching roll whereby the superposed roll urges it toward both the segment and the piercing roll.

13. In a cotton comber, the combination of the comb cylinder having a detaching segment, a lower or piecing roll, a detaching roll engaging both, a pressure roll having gudgeon sleeves, guiding means for such sleeves directed toward the rear of the cylinder, and means for applying pressure to said sleeves.

14. In a Heilman type comber, means for holding the lap, a comb cylinder for combing the fringe thereof, and a piecing roll, in combination with means for obtaining a close nip on the combed fringe comprising a. segment on the cylinder, a small detaching roll having its gudgeons incased in sleeves and being capable of being set close to the said fringe-holding means and in contact with the piecing roll, a weighting roll superposed on the detaching roll, and inclined surfaces engaging the sleeves of the latter roll to direct the same toward and against the piecing roll.

15. In a cotton comber, the combination with the comb cylinder and segment, the top comb and piecing roll, of a detaching roll adapted to work close to the top comb, a pressure roll superposed thereon, guide channels for the pressure roll having a rearward and downward inclination, and guiding means for the detaching roll extending at a forward and downward inclination whereby said roll is pressed against the piecing roll.

16. In a Heilinan type comber, a detaching roll, means for weighting the same, comprising a superposed device moving therewith and bearing thereon solely at points intermediate of the ends of its working face.

17. In a Heilman type comber, the combination of nipper jaws and comb cylinder having a detaching segment, a relatively slender segment-engaging detaching roll, a presser roll superposed thereon, a bearing block for the ends of the detaching roll, means on such block for maintaining the presser roll in position, and means for applying pressure to said presser roll.

18. In a I-Ieilman type comber, a detaching roll and means for weighting the same comprising a superposed roll having an enlarged diameter intermediate of the ends thereof adapted for pressure contact on the central region of the detaching roll.

19. In a IIeilman type comber, a detaching roll and means for weighting the same comprising a superposed roll having a portion of its length of larger diameter than the remainder and adapted for pressure contact on the detaching roll, and said larger portion being beveled toward the smaller portion.

'20. In a Heilman type comber, the combination of a detaching roll and weighting means therefor comprising a superposed roll having substantially one-third of its length at its central portion of larger diameter than its end portions and adapted for pressure contact with a corresponding central portion of the detaching roll.

21- In a Heilman type comber, a combing cylinder having a detaching segment, a pair of nipper jaws, a pair of lap-feeding rolls set in rear of the nipper jaws, a top comb, a small detaching roll set in front of the top comb, a piecing roll in contact with the said small roll, a pressure roll superposed on said small roll between the piecing roll and the top comb, means for weighting the ends of said pressure roll and guiding means whereby the detaching roll is urged against both the segment and the lower roll, by the pressure of the said pressure rollthereon.

22. In a cotton comber, the combination of a detaching roll, means for applying pressure to the central region thereof, and separate means for applying pressure to the ends thereof.

23. In a Heilman type comber having a needle half-lap and detaching segment, adapted to work on a 12-inch lap, or wider, and a detaching roll engaged thereby having a diameter of less than 2- inch, in combination with a piecing roll supporting the forward side of said detaching roll, and means for applying a non-slipping nipping pressure to such detaching roll.

24:. In a Heilman type comber, the combination of the nipper jaws, a comb cylinder, a pair of lap-feeding rolls set close in rear of the-jaws, a top comb,'a small diameter detaching roll set close in front of the top comb, a piecing roll of relatively larger diameter in contact with the said small roll,-

a pressure roll superposed on the said small roll and of substantially the same diameter, said roll being located between the piecing roll and the top comb, and means for weighting the ends of the pressure roll.

25. In a cotton comber, the combination with the comb cylinder, a segment thereon having a beveled forward edge and a small diameter detaching roll adapted for engagement by the segment, of means for applying nipping pressure at the middle and ends of said detaching roll.

26. In a Heilman cotton comber, a detaching roll, a superposed pressure roll and means for weighting the ends of both rolls.

27. In a Heilman cotton comber, a detaching roll, a superposed pressure roll, guiding brackets for the ends of the latter roll, means for weighting such ends and independent means for weighting the ends of the detaching roll.

'28. I11 a Heilman comber, the combination with the detaching segment and piecing roll, of a detaching roll engaging both, and having its gudgeons incased in bearing sleeves, in combination with an inclined bearing block for such sleeves, stirrups hooked from below over said bearing sleeves, and separate means for imparting pressure to said detaching roll.

29. In a cotton comber of the kind described a comb cylinder, a pair of nipper jaws including a forwardly inclined knife, a pair of feed rolls in rear of such knife,

one of said rolls being a shaft feed roll having fixed bearings and driven from the drive head, and the other being a roll of smaller diameter adapted to be held on the forward side of the shaft feed roll, in combination with a forwardly inclined top comb, a detaching roll operating close in front of the same, and a shaft roll engaging the detaching roll.

30. In a cotton comber of the kind described a comb cylinder, a pair of nipper jaws including a forwardly inclined knife, a pair of feed rolls in rear of such knife, one of said rolls being a shaft feed roll having fixed bearings and driven from the drive head, and the other being a roll of smaller diameter adapted to be held in the forward side of the shaft feed roll, both ofsaid rolls being provided with sharp cornered flutes intermeshing through the cotton lap passing between them, in combination with a forwardly inclined top comb, a detaching roll operating close in front of the same and a shaft roll engaging the detaching roll, the said detaching roll being of smaller diameter than the said shaft roll and intermittently driven thereby.

31. In a cotton comber, a comb cylinder having a segment and supported on frame uprights having inclined upper margins, a

shaft feed roll having journals on the said margins, an upper feed roll of smaller diameter, a pair of nipper jaws in front of said feed rolls adapted to hold the end of the lap in contact with the comb cylinder at a point in rear of its vertical center,

in combination with a top comb and detaching and piecing rolls in front of said top comb, the detaching roll being adapted to engage the segment and being of smaller diameter than the other roll.

32. In a cotton comber, a comb cylinder having a segment, a pair of nipper jaws having a fixed cushion plate adapted to hold the end of the cotton lap in contact with the comb cylinder at a point in rear of its vertical center, a pair of feed rolls set close in rear of the movable nipper jaw and comprising a lower feed roll formed on a shaft common toseveral combing heads and journaled in bearings fixed on the frame of the comber and an upper feed roll of smaller diameter, in combination with a top comb, a segment-engaging detaching roll and a shaft roll in driving contact therewith, the said detaching roll being of smaller diameter than its driving shaft roll and mounted to engage the segment close in front of the top comb.

33. In a cotton comber the combination with the intermediate frame upright between the combing heads, having an inclined upper margin, the rear portion of such margin being depressed relatively to the forward portion thereof, a feed roll shaft having a bearing supported on said depressed margin, an upper feed roll co'o'p crating with said feed roll shaft, nipper jaws in front of said rolls and in the rear of the vertical center of the comb cylinder, a top comb forward of said jaws and a detaching roll and comb cylinder with a segment operating close in front of the said top comb.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE M. lVHITlN.

Witnesses:

OSCAR L. OWEN, CHESTER C. LAMB.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patente.

Washington, D. G. 

